Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Kanha National Park is a tiger reserve in Madhya Pradesh, central India. The forests of Kanha are spread over the Mandla and Balaghat districts, and the area of neighboring Phen Sanctuary adds-up to form the Kanha Tiger Reserve. In 1879, the jungles of Kanha became a forest reserve and in 1933, it gained the status of a wildlife sanctuary. Kanha National Park is often referred to as the land of the Jungle Book because Joseph Rudyard Kipling found his inspiration for his novel here. Here are some interesting things to know about this park.

1. Kanha National Park was established on the 1st of June in 1955.

Bengal Tiger - Kanha National Park

2. Kanha’s core area covers about 940 km² with 1,067 km² of surrounding buffer zone. This makes Kanha the largest National Park in central India. The core area of the Kanha tiger reserve is protected under the Project Tiger initiative.

3.Jungle Book, written by the famous English writer Joseph Rudyard Kipling, was inspired by the wild creatures and dense forests of Kanha.

Joseph Rudyard Kipling

4. Many of the wild creatures of Kanha National Park are depicted as characters in the Jungle Book like Baloo the bear, Bagheera the black panther and Shere Khan the tiger.

6.Bengal Tigers dominate the forests of Kanha. Foxes, jackals, leopards and wild dogs are the other carnivores in the reserve.

7. The grasslands of the Kanha National Park are vital for the survival of the swamp deer population as many important species of grass grows there. Sambhar, Chital and Gaur are other commonly seen creatures inside the park.

Swamp Deer - Image by David Schenfeld on flickr.com

8. Over 1000 species of flowering plants can be found in this park. Sal and bamboo trees are also found in abundance.

9. Except from July to mid November, this park remains open for tourist activities throughout the year.

10.Bamni Dadar is a sunset point where tourists can easily spot sambar, barking deer, gaur and four horned antelope in the evening. Kanha Museum is another interesting place to go and have more knowledge about the park. Kanha National Park is counted among the must visit destinations in Madhya Pradesh.

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

The state of Gujarat in India, like all the other states, is like a bag full of candies. It has something for everyone. There are many amazing destinations to visit in Gujarat. While a large number of people visit Gujarat for its unique culture, the wildlife of Gujarat also has a lot of takers. The jungles of the Gir Forest National Park are ideal for exploring the rich biodiversity of Gujarat. Here are some interesting facts one should know about Gir National Park before visiting it.

1. The Gir Forest National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary were established in 1965.

2. It covers a very large area of 1412 km² inside which, 258 km² is a fully protected area. The remaining area is a wildlife sanctuary.

3. The forests of Gir were a protected area under the princely state of Junagadh.

4. The main attraction of Gir National Park is the Asiatic Lion population that is more than 400.

5. The Gir National Park is also the only remaining natural habitat for these lion subspecies.

6. The presence of a supportive natural environment for Asiatic Lions makes it one of the most important protected areas in Asia.

7. Besides Asiatic lions, other carnivores of Gir National Park are the Indian leopards, sloth bears, jungle cats, striped hyenas and golden Jackals. The herbivorous population includes chital, nilgai, sambar, four-horned
antelope, chinkara and wild boar.

8. The bird population of Gir consists of 300 different species and an astonishing number of 2000 species of insects can be found in the forests.

9. Around 400 species of plants are also recorded in Gir. The forest mostly consists of dry deciduous trees.

10. The best time to visit the Gir National Park is from December till the end of March.

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

The lesser famous Dudhwa National Park lies on the edge of India-Nepal border in the foothills of the Himalayas. It is located in Lakhimpur Kheri, the largest district in the state of Uttar Pradesh. The vast marshy grasslands and dense forests protect many endangered species of flora and fauna. This park has some of the best Sal tree forests in the world. Despite being rich in wildlife and natural beauty, Dudhwa National Park remains a less popular tourist destination. Let us take an insight inside the Dudhwa National Park.

1. Dudhwa National Park was established in 1958 as a wildlife sanctuary for the protection of Swamp deer population in the area.

Swamp Deer

2. The area of the park stretches to about 490.3 square km with a buffer zone of 190 square km.

3. This park is home to some of the best remaining grasslands and forests of the Terai belt in the Himalayas.

4. It was elevated up to the status of a national park in 1977 and became a part of Project Tiger in 1987.

5. Billy Arjan Singh played an important role in establishing this protected area as a national park.

Billy Arjan Singh

6. The major attraction of this park is the ‘Barasinghas’ (Swamp Deer). It is estimated that around half of the world’s population of Swamp Deer lives in this park.

7. Reintroduced Bengal Tigers also thrive in the rich Terai ecosystem. Beside these, Indian one-horned rhinoceros and the rare Hispid Hare also make this park their home.

8. The uncharted forests of Dudhwa are a treat for bird-watching. The checklist of birds in the park goes up to 400 species. This includes both migratory and resident birds.

9. While visiting the Dudhwa National Park, one can also make a tour to the Frog Temple. It is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The design of the temples follows the unique Manduk Tantra and appears to be built on the back of a giant frog.

Frog Temple

10. The best time to visit the Dudhwa National Park would be after November till early June.

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

The harsh conditions of a desert may look unbearable but these deserts also support a variety of wildlife. The Little Runn of Kutch in Gujarat is such a place that is home to a rich biodiversity. The Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary is located in the Little Runn of Kutch and is considered an important place for the conservation of Indian wild ass species. Here are some interesting facts to know about Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary.

1. Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary covers about 4954 km², which is the largest area covered by any wildlife sanctuary in India.

2. This sanctuary came into existence in the year 1972.

Indian Wild Ass or Khur

3. It is the only place left on earth where the Indian Wild Ass population can be found.

4. Around 3000 of these wild Khurs live inside the sanctuary and are often seen in herds.

5. Khurs look like a hybrid of a horse and a donkey. They are usually fast and can reach a speed of 70 kms.

6. Apart from Khurs, 32 other species of mammals also live inside this vast protected area that includes chinkara, jackals, caracals, desert fox, Indian wolves, blackbucks, and striped hyenas.

7. The largest antelope of Asia, Nilgais or the blue bulls are also the resident of this sanctuary.

Group of Nilgai in Little Runn of Kutch

8. The best time to visit this sanctuary would be after November when the weather is nice. During summer time, it is strongly advised not to visit this place as the heat of the desert is unbearable.

9. The nearest railway station in Dhrangadhra is about 16 km away and thus, is sometimes (or rarely) called the Dhrangadhra National Park.

10. As it is close to the Gulf of Kutch, this sanctuary is an important site for migratory birds for resting, feeding and breeding. This makes it a good place for bird-watching.